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More Bad News For N.Y. GOP

If state Republicans didn’t have enough problems, here’s a new one: The leader of New York County’s GOP committee, James Ortenzio, is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Manhattan D.A.’s office, law-enforcement sources say. A longtime Pataki confidant, big fund-raiser, and Mayor Bloomberg’s choice to run the host committee for a possible follow-up GOP convention (in ’08), Ortenzio has already met with prosecutors, who are trying to determine whether he misleadingly filled out financial-disclosure forms with the state—a potential felony. Specifically, prosecutors are trying to determine whether Ortenzio failed to disclose gifts he may have received from friends or business partners in exchange for helping them secure city contracts. Ortenzio did not return several calls but has told friends he believes the D.A.’s investigation is unwarranted and spurred by an overzealous, politically motivated city investigator. Sources say Ortenzio has also hired ex-Giuliani deputy mayor and GOP crisis manager Randy Mastro to deal with the matter. (Mastro refused to confirm this, saying it’s his policy not to reveal the names of his clients.)